Dec 06 2006
Trimming Fat from the New York Diet
What’s up in New York? While the rest of the country is focusing on banning smoking, New York has taken public health to another level:
It is becoming the first city in the country to ban all restaurants from using artificial trans fats, while requiring hundreds of eateries to post food calorie counts right on their menus.
City health officials created the unprecedented new requirements Tuesday. Restaurants will get a grace period to make both changes, but by mid-2008, Dunkin’ Donuts will have to find a substitute for the 3.5 grams of trans fat in its Boston Kremes and tell customers up front that the snacks contain 240 calories.
What will McDonalds do with out their trans fat fries?
Companies such as McDonald’s (MCD) are expected to comply with the city’s vote by converting their restaurants in New York. The fast-food giant already has demonstrated that it can eliminate trans fats when required. In Denmark, the company switched the oil it uses to make French fries to one that doesn’t have any trans fat. And just last month, the food giant vowed to use the healthier oil in 6,300 other restaurants in Europe.
You mean they could have switched to a healthier oil already and elected not too? Looks like a ringing endorsement for New York’s change in policy.
Of course, not everyone is thrilled with the policy change. The National Restaurant Association had this to say:
“Today’s decision by the Board of Health shows an ignorance of the challenges New York’s 24,000 restaurants will face in trying to eliminate trans fat and may well take a step backward for public health,”
Look out now, here come the lawyers!
Others Blogging:
- BRAVO NYC!
- New York City Bans Trans-Fats…
- The “Magic Bullet” theory of obesity
- Endangered Sweeties
- Making Us Eat Soggy French Fries
- Eat Your Vegetables Ordinance
